Tapout

Chapter.23.GPS.

There is a sex scene. B T Dub. Thanks! Love you Guys!

Chapter 23

"Hey Riley." I step out of my old bedroom with Lucas' hand in mine, he hadn't let go since I asked him to not give up on me.

I will never. His response sent shock and chills through my already emotional body. After everything that occurred, and everything I said yesterday, I thought he'd be heading for the hills, not that I would let him but it still surprises me.

Glancing at the pair of kind eyes in front of me, I smile fondly. "Hey Nora, thank you." She taps on the table, gesturing for me to take a seat and I accept without hesitation, she always knows what to say. Nora is like my own personal Yoda.

"I've missed you sweetie."

A warmth spreads within me at the notion, I'm a hard person to like so the fact that she misses me means a lot. "Me too." She practically became a mother figure to me, obviously no one could ever replace my mom. But there are so many similarities it is kind of surprising, I'll always be grateful for Nora's presence in my life.

"Where'd you go?" I feel Lucas' hand lay on my shoulder and another wave of confidence runs over me, beckoning me to tell the truth. "I haven't seen you in so long darling." 

"I got distracted." Her hand lays gently over mine, after revealing my truth. Getting so caught up within my own misery and revenge it was overwhelming. "I'm sorry."

She slowly shakes her head, "Don't be sorry sweetheart. I was worried something bad happened to you. I found myself reading the obituaries."

"For that, I'm really sorry." Sometimes I forget that things could go that severe. It just becomes part of the job, I expect to be battered and broken but I tend to overlook the brutality of the consequences. "I will come visit more often."

Gently she shakes her head, "You'll try." Her words are slightly admonishing me. Nora, always the thinker and observer, doesn't set me up for failure. She doesn't want me disappointed in myself if I'm not able to visit, or keep her informed of my whereabouts. "You may not always be able to visit sweetheart, but try, that's all I ask." Lucas rubs calming circles on the hand he's holding, for a minute or so, I use that as a way to avoid this conversation but, I'm not that lucky. "You used to always tell me about the end game sweetie. You're so close."

I laugh lightly, somewhat bitterly. For years, I thought I was close. "Why do I feel so far away?"

"You got distracted. But that doesn't mean you've lost your way. It means your GPS took a longer route."

"So how do I get my GPS to take me down the fastest course?"

"You reset it. When you first started coming to see me, you had just turned 16. You always said you wanted a husband and kids out of life, a family. I always thought that was endearing and sweet, especially after everything you had been through, but it was also a little girl's answer. But now that you're 18, soon to be 19, what do you want out of life? Do you still want a husband and kids?"

Glancing down at my hand that is intertwined with Lucas' I sigh, "That and more."

"What's 'more'?" She whispers her head tilted slightly to the side, I find it funny that she's whispering. It makes it more intense and drama filled. I obviously don't laugh because hell, it's a serious moment.

"I want to be happy." I crane my neck to look at Sparky who's already staring at me.

A smile graces her somewhat wrinkled face now that she's hitting 60. "Then get it. You deserve more than what you're putting yourself through. Whether you believe that or not, I don't really care. But you do." Her brown eyes shift towards my man, "Thank you for bringing her back here."